Washing machine for cases, cans, and crates



y 1954 I J. J. BOCCHINO 2,682,881

WASHING MACHINE FOR CASES, CANS, AND CRATES Filed June a. 1956 5 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH J. BOCCH/NO A TTOQAIE Y5 Patented July 6, 1954 WASHING MACHINE FOR CASES, CANS, AND CRATES Joseph J. Bocchino, Dover, N. J.

Application June 3, 1950, Serial No. 165,936

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for washing milk and beverage bottle cases, boxes, cans, and the like.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a more effective device for cleaning various types of carriers than heretofore known.

A further object is to decrease costs in the distribution of dairy products, beverages, and food.

Another object is to raise the standards of sanitation in the dairy, beverage, and food industries.

Other objects of the instant invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the attainment of these objectives, the washing device is made in two embodiments. In each embodiment, the article or carrier to be cleaned is moved longitudinally by an endless belt through the open ends of a super-structure, the open bottom of which is situated above two open tanks containing different types of cleaning liquid. The liquid from each tank is pumped into a series of inter-connected pipe frames mounted in the super-structure above the tanks, the endless belt passing through all the frames to carry the articles to be cleaned between jets of the liquid forced from inwardly directed outlets in the frames. In the first embodiment, reciprocable rotary motion is applied to the frames. The second embodiment is like the first except that reciprocable linear motion is applied to the frames rather than the reciprocable rotary motion of the first embodiment.

The invention will appear more clearly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the first embodiment of the washing device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the device with part of the cover broken away to more clearly show the internal construction;

Figure 2 is the left end view of the device shown in Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view along 33 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 show the second embodiment of the washing device in which:

Figure 4 is a front elevational View of the device with part of the cover broken away to more clearly show the internal construction; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view along 5--5 of Figure 4.

Referring now in greater detail to the first embodiment of, the washing device shown in Figures 1 through 3 where like reference numerals indicate like parts, reference numeral IQ indicates the carriers to be cleaned, and I I the washing device.

The carriers it to be cleaned may be any of the many known types which are reused, such as the cases for milk and beverage bottles, milk cans, and crates and boxes for a wide variety of products.

The washing device 1 i is constituted of a superstructure !2 located above two liquid containing tanks I3 and it.

The super-structure I2 is constituted of a main frame having the two front vertical members l5' and i6 and two similar rear vertical members (not shown) which may be welded to corresponding edges of the tanks. A top horizontal rail H is secured by any suitable means between the tops of the vertical members it and it while a similar rail I3 is disposed between the two rear vertical members. Similar end rails may also be used to support the front and rear frame work so formed. A top member is is removably attached by any known means over the top of the main frame. A front member 28 is similarily remova'bly disposed between the vertical members l5 and IS and may extend downwardly to overlap the front of the later described tanks to which it is removably attached by any suitable fasteners Ill. A similar back member 2! is also removably attached over the back of points 25 and 28 by any known means between points is a driving rod 30, pivotally connected to each pipe frame of each series, one free end of the rod being eccentrically and pivotally connected to the fly-wheel 32 of a prime mover 33,

by a link 3|.

The tanks l3 and M with open tops are located directly under the open bottom of the superstructure. The tank l4, for example, may contain a caustic solution and the tank I3 water. A pump 34 draws the caustic solution from the tank I4 through the pipe line 35 and forces it upwardly in the pipe line 36 to the flexible tube 31 connected in the inter-connecting pipe line 28, previously mentioned.

At the opposite end of the super-structure [2, the pump 38 draws water from the tank 13 through the pipe line 39 and forces it upwardly to the flexible tube ll] to supply'the series of pipe frames 24 over the tank [3 with water via the inter-connecting pipe line 29.

An inwardly directed baiiie 4| ina vertical plane intermediate and above the tanks and leaving a sufficient opening for the passage of carriers disposed n the superstructure prevents an excess amount of caustic solution from the tank H from passing over to the water tank I 3, assuming that the direction of motion of the belt [2Q is as shown by the arrow of Figure 1, Any suitable means may be used for fastening the baiile in the frame-work of the super-structure. Adjacent the bafile ll is another baffle 42 of flexible material so designed that it will contact a substantial part of the carriers in a wiping operation. A third baflie 43, at the outlet or delivery end of the device, at the left as shown in Figure 1, may also be installed to remove excess rinsing water from the tank It before the carrier passes out of the device.

In operation:

The pumps for the caustic solution and water are set in operation along with the endless belt. From any position, such as the bottle cleaning position (not shown), the cases are placed on the belt i2l which may have the known outwardly directed and spaced protrusions to prevent the carriers from slipping. As the carriers Iii enter the open or receiving end of the device, the caustic solution from the tank M- being ejected out of the frames 26; under pressure against all the surfaces of the carrier will remove a large part of the foreign matter and the spent liquid will drop back through the open bottom of the superstructure into the tank it for reuse. The wiping baflie and the separating baiiie :1! will tend to prevent 6118328685 caustic solution from passing over to the water tank It. Passing through the series of pipe frames 1 over the water tank l3 and from the inwardly directed outlets of which the water is being expelled, any remaining caustic solution and foreign matter is removed while the belt transports the carriers through the open end, at the left as shown in Figure 1, to a reloading position or the like.

In the embod ment of the washing device shown in Figures and 5, reference numeral 60 indicates the superstructure, BI and 62 the liquid containing tanks, and 53 the pipe frames.

All parts of the device are identical with the previously described parts of the first embodiment except for the mounting of the pipeframes 63 which are designed for reciprocable linear motion as follows:

Longitudinal guideways 6G and 65 are secured within the super-structure as shown in Figure 5 by any known means. Coacting with the guideways are the similar wheels 66 rotatably mounted on each side of each pipe frame substantially at the center as illustrated. Of course, the driving rod of Figure 4 is not pivotally connected to the pipe frames as in Figure l of the first form.

The operation with the washing device of the second embodiment is the same as that previously described for the first embodiment.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact disclosure herein described but may lend itself to a variety of expressions within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing device for cases and the like, comprising an elongated tank structure having an open top, a case carrying belt extending above the tank structure and movable in the longi tudinal direction of the tank structure, a superstructure having members disposed on opposite sides of the tank structure, end members disposed on opposite ends of the tank structure and con nected with the first-mentioned members, the second inentioned members having alined openings formed therein for the passage of the cases, and supports carried by the first-mentioned members; a plurality of longitudinally spaced pipe-frames enclosing said belt and havin outlets upon the inner sides thereof for the spraying of cases upon said belt, a pipe line interconnecting said pipe-frames, means connected with said supports for supporting said pipe-frames for movement substantially in the direction of movement of said belt and in the opposite direction, a drivin rod connected with said pipe-frames, a link connected with said driving rod, a fly-wheel connected with said link, a prime mover connected with said link, and a pump connected with said pipe line and connected with said tank structure below the level of the liquid therein.

2. A washing device for cases and the like, comprising an elongated tank structure having an open top, a case carrying belt extending above the tank structure and movable in the longitudinal direction of the tank structure, a superstructure having members disposed on opposite sides of the tank structure, end members disposed on opposite ends of the tank structure and connected with the first-mentioned members, the second-mentioned members having alined openings formed therein for the passage of the cases, and supports carried by the first-mentioned members; a plurality of longitudinally spaced pipe-frames enclosing said belt and having outlets upon the inner sides thereof for the spraying of cases upon said belt, a pipe line interconnecting said pipe-frames, pivots connected with said supports for supportin said pipe-frames for swinging movement substantially in the direction of movement of said belt and in the opposite direction, a driving rod connected with said pipeframes, a link connected with said driving rod, a fly-wheel connected with said link, a prime mover connected with said link, and a pump connected with said pipe line and connected with said tank structure below the level of the liquid therein.

3. A washing device for cases and the like, o niprising an elongated tank structure having an open top, a case-carrying belt extending above the tank structure and movable in the longitudinal direction of the tank structure, a superstructure havin members disposed on opposite sides of the ta structure, end members disposed on opposite ends of the tank structure and connected with the first-mentioned members, the second-mentioned members having alined openings formed therein for the passage of the cases, and supports car" d by the first-mentioned members; a plu y of longitudinally spaced pipe-frames enclosing said belt and having outlets upon the inner sides thereof for the spraying of cases upon said belt, a pipe line interconnecting said pipe-frames, guides connected with said supports for supporting said pipe frames for reciprocating movement substantially in the direction of movement of said belt and in the opposite direction, a driving rod connected with said pipeframes, a link connected with said driving rod, a fly-wheel connected with said link, a prime mover connected with said link, and a pump connected with said pipe line and connected with said tank structure below the level of the liquid therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gofi Mar. 24, 1908 Number Number Number Switzerland Sept. 1, 1932 

